Wigan Album

I have been a bit reluctant to post this picture for obvious tartan reasons but it has been suggested that to not post it infers acceptance of the White Feather of Cowardice. So publish and be damned.
I have had a lot of trouble because of the White Feather. It was this that caused me to walk the nearside arch of the bridge when we were on our way to Twenty Bridges. My legs were still shaking when we had cleared the Plantations a mile further on. And, it was the White Feather that forced me and Tommy Thomlinson to climb over the bridge and under it into the two foot high gap just at the top of the stone pillar on the right and lay there whilst a train went over the top just a sleeper away. Daft is not the word. Petrified is the word.
Serious diving took place off this bridge but not by us lot. Most would go from the supports sticking out over the water but I have seen Fred Ralph of West Street swallow dive off the highest point of the arch. Big lads' games them. We would have got a belt just for watching. My Mams's only real rule was no swimming in the cut and for good reason I reckon.
It was one of our fishing locks as well, although I have been set upon by rough lads from Whelley who threw my landing net in the lock, and shot at with an air rifle, and had to fight to keep my bloodworms in my own bait tin. All told it wasn't easy to get a bit of peaceful gudgeon snatching done.
I was much taken by Karen Smith's picture of this bridge but when I noticed that it was filed under Whelley it provoked an involuntary grab to the back left pocket of my tartan troosers for the catty, quite prepared to shoulder arms in support of King, Country and Higher Ince. Obviously, this is a simple misprint. Everyone knows that this Bridge belongs to Incers so I would formally claim it back.
Bless it. And all who remember it.